Cochin
described as the Queen of Arabian Sea, is the
commercial hub of Kerala, the most literate
of all the states in India.
It
is the largest harbour and the densest populated
city in Kerala — and it's expanding industrially
and commercially, as well.
Urban
migration (from rural areas and from neighbouring
states) in search of employment coupled with unplanned
urban expansion attribute for the menacing growth
of slums and the rise in urban poor population.
Covering
an area of 94.88 sq km, the city is traversed
by a maze of canals and sub-canals, all discharging
into backwaters. The backwaters divide Cochin
into two zones: the western zone comprising Fort
Cochin, Mattancherry and Palluruthy, and, the
eastern zone consisting of Ernakulam, Edapally,
Vyttila and Pachalam. |
| |
 |
| |
Nearly
two lakh people, approximately 35 percent of the
urban population in Ernakulam, live in 281 odd
slums where poverty is quite high. Only 20 percent
have regular work throughout the year.
Infrastructure
is rather poor and many families are deprived
of basic services. Environment-related diseases
are widespread — so are problems of drug
abuse and reproductive health. |
| |
 |
| |
Exuding
an uncanny grace and dignity, 60- year-old Ammukutty
Amma is silent, resilient and stoic —
her world is bound in lawsuits.
The
sight of the dismantled aristocratic ancestral
home at Vaduthala in suburban Cochin still ruins
her heart. Adjacent to its crumbling walls Ammukutty
has built a tiny roof for herself when she became
a widow twelve years ago.
Ammukutty struggles to make both ends meet by
doing household chores in neighbouring homes.
It is the nostalgic memories of the past and the
sheer lust for life that keeps her ticking. |
| |
 |
| |
| In
the case of Rajamma Lawrence from Palluruthy, the
bitter past behind has only urged her to seek a
better tomorrow.
Mary
Celine's ardent faith in the divine powers at
the nearby Nadakkal temple had influenced her
into adopting the name Rajamma. Poverty has only
made her more vocal and assertive.
Puppies
whimper, squirm and squeak while dogs create chaos
in the wayside shack, her home. Virtually a kennel,
she shares the encroached spooky den with her
husband Lawrence — and nearly a score puppies,
ready for sale.
Rajamma
refuses to budge from her den near the temple
premises and so the Government cannot rehabilitate
her elsewhere. She keeps her neighbours guessing
about her association with the temple Goddess.
"They think that I am endowed with magical
powers," exclaims Rajamma.
|
| |
 |
| |
| Rajamma's
innumerable petitions to the Government, demanding
a decent shelter, pile up unanswered. They have
only spurred her to send more. |
|
